‘I photographed my transformation from flab to fab’: How Ryan, 30, ditched his jelly belly to become a bodybuilder in just 16 weeks

Ryan Howells decided to enter the BodyPower challenge in an attempt to change his lifestyle

Pictured

Sara Kamouni

31 Aug 2016, 17:59

Updated: 20 Feb 2019, 12:45

THIS is the amazing photo diary of a man who transformed his body from a normal chubby frame to a bodybuilder's physique in just 16 weeks.

Ryan Howells, 30, a business analyst from Cardiff, turned himself into a bodybuilder in just four months as part of a BodyPower challenge.

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Ryan transformed his physique using the BodyPower challengeCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

In January of this year, weighing 14st, with a height of 5ft10, Ryan was overweight from eating too many curries and cakes.

He decided to enter the BodyPower challenge in an attempt to change his lifestyle, and work towards a tangible goal.

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Ryan held up dated newspapers to prove his photos were realCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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He took shots from the front, back and sideCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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He repeated the process for 16 weeksCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

On day one, Ryan photographed himself from the front back, and side with a dated newspaper in his hand to prove the pictures were real.

Each week he repeated the process and bulking up, while losing 3st to become a more slender 11st9.

By the end of the 16 short weeks Ryan looked almost unrecognisable with huge muscles across his chest, arms and back.

He was crowned the winner of the competition on May 14.

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He was crowned winner of the competition on May 14Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

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He lost three stone during the challengeCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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He now weighs 11st9lbsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

But Ryan - who spends four nights a week in the gym working out - explains that while his girlfriend of 14 months Michelle Jones, 28, loves his new body, she doesn’t like how much time it takes him to work on it.

He says: “Michelle’s really impressed with my transformation and say I should be proud but hates how much time I spend in the gym.

“It is hard to get the right balance especially recently when I've been doing so many competitions.”

Before the transformation, Ryan suffered from health issues while travelling across South East Asia, having contracted both dengue fever while travelling in Thailand, and then Group A Strep, a blood infection in Malaysia.

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In November 2014 he left his home in Cardiff weighing 83kg, but returned six months later weighing just 60kg, and was dangerously thin.

He tells how his mum picked him up from Cardiff airport, saying how she was horrified to find him looking like a ‘skeleton’.

He spent a few weeks recovering, before he decided to enter a charity boxing competition in September last year to kick start his exercise regime.

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Before the challenge, Ryan had lost a large amount of weight due to illnessCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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His girlfriend loves his new bodyCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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However, she is ls less keen on the time it takes him to work outCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

But sadly Ryan dislocated his shoulder just 30 seconds into the fight and was forced to spend three months recuperating from the fight.

He says: “Those three months up until Christmas last year I just binged on unhealthy food. I think I was a bit depressed that all that hard work was just gone 30 seconds into the fight.”

Ryan tells how before the challenge, he constantly ate cake and biscuits while ate chips with every meal.

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He gained weight after picking up an injury boxingCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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He had to spend three months recoveringCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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While recovering he binged on junk foodCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

But in January of this year, he decided to try again, entering the BodyPower transformation competition.

He entirely overhauled his diet, eating only fresh foods and proteins - except for Jaffa Cakes which he couldn’t bear to lose.

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Ryan ate a high amount of protein to maintain his muscle massCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

In an average day, Ryan would start with a protein shake for breakfast, have chicken or fish for lunch and home cooked meal for dinner. He would also snack on protein bars throughout the day.

Ryan also goes to the gym twice a day six days a week for two hours, where he splits his time between doing weights and cardio.

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Ryan will head to Edinburgh on September 25 for the finals of the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation competitionCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

In total, he took 42 photographs over the 16 weeks and uploaded them to the BodyPower website for the judges to make their decision.

However, his dedication has taken a toll - as girlfriend Michelle often feels that their relationship has to be fitted around his gym routine.

Although she does prefer his new body, Ryan says she enjoys his abs, but does miss the softness of his former bod.

Ryan will head to Edinburgh on September 25 for the finals of the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation competition.